Hungary names reason for detention of Ukrainian bank collectors in Budapest
Hungary names reason for detention of Oschadbank collectors (photo: Getty Images)
Hungary has still not allowed Ukrainian consuls to visit seven Oschadbank collectors detained in Budapest and has not named a reason for their detention, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
What Sybiha said
"Ukrainian consuls have still not been permitted access to seven Ukrainian citizens taken hostage in Budapest. The Hungarian side has not provided any explanation," the foreign minister said.
He stressed that Ukraine demands their immediate release and is preparing further actions, including at the level of the European Union.
Hungary names the reason for the seizure
According to the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NAV), on March 5, 2026, seven citizens of Ukraine, including a former general of Ukrainian intelligence, as well as two armored cash collection vehicles, were detained while transporting from Austria to Ukraine about 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold.
NAV said it is "conducting criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering."
The agency also said it allegedly "immediately informed the Ukrainian consular service about the start of the procedure. However, no response has been received from the consular service so far."
What is known
Last night, it became known that Hungary groundlessly detained two vehicles of the Oschadbank cash collection service and seven citizens of Ukraine who were part of the collection team.
Ukrainians were carrying out regular transportation of foreign currency and bank metals between Raiffeisen Bank Austria and Oschadbank Ukraine.
The National Bank of Ukraine released an official statement accusing Hungarian authorities of illegal seizure of cash collection teams of the state bank.
RBC-Ukraine sources reported that vehicles are currently located on the territory of the Hungarian Counter-Terrorism Center — law enforcement structure subordinate to the Ministry of Interior.
Earlier, this structure had already taken part in provocations against Ukraine during the premiership of Viktor Orbán.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the actions of Hungarian authorities hostage taking and state terrorism.
The incident occurred amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to use force to restore the supply of Russian oil through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline.
Orbán also said Budapest will suspend transit of vital supplies for Ukraine until Kyiv restores operation of the pipeline.
